ChrisThilk Blog

Movie Journal: Gigantic

ChrisThilk — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:01:36 GMT

I watched Gigantic after taking a look at its marketing campaign, so my immediate question that had to be answered was: Did the campaign accurately portray and sell the finished film?

The answer is yes, absolutely.

The movie is funny and offbeat without ever descending into parody or a portrayal of quirk for the sake of quirk. Instead, while all the characters act in what would be considered odd ways they never go over the edge into being just ridiculous. More to the point, they all stay true to their motivations and remain grounded in the reality of this film’s universe, which is even more important and the lynchpin of such directors as Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach.

Dano and Deschanel have obvious chemistry and - and this is essential to the movie’s success or could have been a cause of its failure - are able to deliver the highly stylized dialogue in a way that’s natural and believable. That’s a testament to their skills as actors as well as to the accuracy of the casting.

The campaign lays out the movie’s story pretty well so I won’t rehash it again. But let me say there’s a twist that comes in the movie’s last 10 minutes or so that makes you rethink some of the basic assumptions about the characters. It’s an interesting twist but is the one thing about the movie that doesn’t work for me and actually takes away from everything that’s preceded it. I dig, in general, things like that which shake up your beliefs but this movie didn’t need it.

Aside from that, though, Gigantic is a very good flick that, if you’re in one of the areas where it’s screening, is well worth going and checking out.

Originally posted on:Chris Thilk

DVD Review: Appaloosa

ChrisThilk — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:01:35 GMT

I really, really like Appaloosa and even began, shortly after watching it, that it might be my second favorite modern Western, behind only Unforgiven.

Appaloosa is the story of two lawmen-for-hire, played by Ed Harris (who also directed) and Viggo Mortenson. The pair come to the small town of Appaloosa to help the locals with the problems they’re having with a local powerful rancher, played by the fantastic Jeremy Irons. One complication after another comes into the story (including a few that involve a woman who moves to town shortly after them and who’s played by Renee Zellweger) but the two come through as partners despite being the only morally clear people in the entire story.

What I dug about Appaloosa was the stoic attitudes displayed by the two stars. While everyone is getting all emotional around them these two lawmen just shrug and move along, never betraying any emotion they don’t need to and meeting every challenge with a quiet certainty. The performances by these two are simply pitch-perfect without being showy or anything like that. Even Irons doesn’t go over the edge in his role as the “villain” of the film, a role that he easily could have hammed up.

The single-disc edition of the movie comes with a handful of bonus features, including a batch of deleted scenes that you can view with or without commentary by director and star Ed Harris and screenwriter/producer Robert Knott. Both Knott and Harris also provide commentary on the feature film itself. The disc also has a few featurettes that dive into the production of the film and the recreation of the titular town.

Originally posted on:Chris Thilk

DVD Review: Quantum of Solace

ChrisThilk — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 01:01:46 GMT

For some reason Quantum of Solace, the most-recent outing of super-spy James Bond, got lukewarm reviews when it came out in theaters. I’m not sure why that was since I actually quite enjoyed it and even thought it was an improvement over 2006’s Casino Royale.

Picking up right, more or less, where that previous movie left off, Daniel Craig once again stars as the new stripped-down and highly intense version of Bond the first movie introduced us to. He’s on a mission to not only uncover some shadowy, nebulous organization that specializes is toppling governments and exploiting natural resources but also to - although he doesn’t admit as much - to avenge the death of Vesper, the girlfriend he lost in the previous installment.

The nature of the plot doesn’t really matter though. Quantum of Solace needs to be viewed as the second half of a single film, one who’s primary purpose is to introduce this version of James Bond and give him a mythos of his own as someone who is emotionally damaged and brutal in pursuit of his goals, which often seem personal but which also have the advantage of meshing nicely with those of Queen and country.

Watching Craig as Bond is even more enjoyable this time than it was in Casino Royale. We know better who this guy is now and can read more into his aggressively passive expressions. It’s also more interesting to see him in the movie’s series of chases and action sequences. I found myself thinking over the course of the movie that he reminded me of Indiana Jones in how he escapes not because of some master plan he’s worked out, but instead because he just happened to survive from one moment to the next, not thinking about anything beyond the next ledge he’s going to leap to and he’ll figure out the next move once he’s there.

There’s never really a moment that doesn’t work in Quantum of Solace. Not only are the action scenes great to watch but the quieter moments (if you can call them that) - especially the ones with Dame Judy Dench as M - are pretty good as well. Dench is basically given the same two things to do over and over again - scold Bond and remind him of his duties or look up information based on Bond’s latest discovery - but she sells them with her usual class and talent.

Quantum of Solace comes with a host of bonus features on the two-disc special edition DVD, including:

Bond on Location: All about the exotic locales and how they play into the story of the movie.
Start of Shooting: Very brief featurette about the shooting of the movie.
On Location: More about the settings. Not sure why this wasn’t just rolled into the 20+ minute first bit.
Olga Kurylenko and the Boat Chase: Covering one of the key action sequences in the film.
Director Marc Forster: How the man behind the camera did on his first time out.
The Music: Self-explanitory
Crew Files: Likewise.

As I said, Quantum of Solace needs to be viewed as the second half of a single story and it works as just that. Well worth checking out.

Originally posted on:Chris Thilk

DVD Review: Being There

ChrisThilk — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:01:33 GMT

Have you ever watched an acrobat and marveled at the control they have over their bodies? Just sat there and been amazed at how they can move their limbs in ways that you just can’t considering you count every time you don’t trip while walking up the stairs as a massive, massive success?

That’s kind of what it’s like watching Peter Sellers in Being There.

If you’re unfamiliar with Being There here’s a quick synopsis: A simple man named Chance serves as the gardener for an old man in Washington, DC. Chance has never left the house and has the intellect of a child, as well as being able to neither read nor write. One day the old man dies and Chance is cast out, only to find himself taken in by another rich old man who thinks Chance is some sort of nuts-and-bolts genius who’s able to take the most complex situation and reduce it down to its core elements. As part of that Chance winds up meeting the President, being quoted in newspapers he can’t read and making lots of influential friends who don’t realize he’s that slow.

The movie, in all honesty, kind of hits that same joke over and over again. With anyone else playing the role of Chance it likely wouldn’t work nearly as well as it does with Sellers there. He brings it an incredible amount of genuine emotion that other actors simply couldn’t. It turns the character from someone to be pitied into someone you come to respect and root for.

Being There received a bare-bones DVD release back in the early days of the format but now it’s gotten a Deluxe Edition release as well as appearing on Blu-ray. Even so, the only new addition to the disc is a “Memories of Being There” featurette that has interviews with the cast and crew. It’s worth watching but it might not be up to a “Deluxe” labeling.

Still, Being There is a classic film that deserved a better release on disc and I’m glad Warner Bros. has provided just that. Definitely recommended.

Originally posted on:Chris Thilk

Movie Journal: The Manhattan Project

ChrisThilk — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:01:48 GMT

I don’t know about you but I always think of The Manhattan Project in the same vein as Wargames. You know, two movies about some kid in the mid-80s who’s smarter than adults around him and who uses those smarts to blow up the world, or at least Ithaca, New York and the surrounding states.

The movie doesn’t hold up nearly as well as some others from that era, unfortunately. It’s still fun to watch, though mostly at this point simply for the memories it evokes of watching it on VHS countless times while spending summer days at my grandparents’ house. It’s especially bad when you realize that John Lithgow’s character basically causes his own problems when he gives the kid a tour of his lab - where he’s making highly unstable weapon’s grade plutonium - because he wants to sleep with the kid’s mother. Good job on that, big guy.

Originally posted on:Chris Thilk

Movie Journal: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

ChrisThilk — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:01:45 GMT

For whatever reason I had never actually seen A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum before coming across it on Hulu a little while ago. I certainly knew of it but had just missed it time and time again.

Forum, though, is not to be missed, especially if you’re a fan of old-school comedy. Between Zero Mostel, Phil Silvers, Buster Keaton and a variety of other faces and names you’re likely to recognize if you know your comedic history, it’s a light little piece of entertainment that is funny and fresh and entirely enjoyable. There isn’t much physical comedy, at least not as much as I was expecting. Instead, as truly befits the talents of those involved, it’s mostly about the word play, about mistaken identities and about pulling one over on your neighbor because he’s probably about to pull one over on you.

If there’s one thing that comes through on watching this, it’s that Mostel truly was a force of nature. He blows through every scene like a whirlwind, leaving half-thought through schemes, confused servants and frustrated masters in his wake. It is, quite frankly, impossible to take your eyes off of him while he’s on screen, even more so than in The Producers, a role he’s well known for in most people’s minds. Maybe because ancient Rome is a bigger canvas for him to wreak havoc on than modern New York City. He’s extraordinary.

The movie is on Hulu for anther week or so so by all means carve out a couple hours or so and watch it while it’s there. If you don’t have the time then add it immediately to your Netflix queue and check it out.

Originally posted on:Chris Thilk

DVD Review: Watchmen - The Complete Motion Comics

ChrisThilk — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:01:26 GMT

Months before the release of Watchmen into theaters, Warner Bros. - specifically their Warner Premiere division - made the first chapter of something called “Watchmen Motion Comics” available as a free download through iTunes.

The format of the video was just what is sounds like, literally the panels of the Watchmen graphic novel put in rudimentary motion and with voice work. It was quite interesting to watch but the future episodes, which weren’t released for quite a while after the first one, weren’t free and so I didn’t continue watching them.

But now Warner Premiere has released all 12 chapters on the two DVD set Watchmen - The Complete Motion Comic.

Unlike the big-screen movie adaptation there’s nothing new or altered from the source material here. Most every panel, including The Black Freighter sub-story and everything else, that appeared in the graphic novel is brought to motion. Dave Gibbons’ artwork is rendered faithfully, with moving limbs and objects being the only alteration.

It’s interesting to watch the whole story unfold like this. I can’t say it’s preferable to reading the printed novel. It’s not. But despite its exact duplication it does provide an alternate way to enjoy the story and I enjoyed it quite a bit. Occasionally things seem silly, but those are few and far between. For the most part it works and is certainly something that fulfills its primary duty as a promotional tool for the feature film.

More than anything, this “version” of the story makes it seem filmable. It’s one thing to look at the amazingly dense graphic novel and say it can’t be translated to film. But this does just that, without any interpretation. The five hour running time of the 12 episodes is just about how long the movie would need to be told. It doesn’t seem like so high a hurdle. While watching it hasn’t impacted my feelings about that feature film, it does make me view the opinions circulating around its making differently.

The two-disc DVD contains only one special feature, a 10-minute featurette on the making of Warner Premiere’s next DC Comics animated feature, Wonder Woman. There’s no finished footage in the segment (which is a bit surprising) but instead it’s made up of cast and crew interviews, with rough sketches from the film giving a glimpse of what it will look like as well as plenty of background on the history of Wonder Woman in the comics.

Originally posted on:Chris Thilk

DVD Review: Marley & Me

ChrisThilk — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:01:22 GMT

When the movie was about to come out you probably weren’t able to go anywhere or watch anything without encountering an ad for Marley & Me. The ads played up the antics of the dog whose name is featured in the title or, because it was coming out around Christmas, showed you a cute little puppy with a bow around his neck. The campaign caught a lot of flack after the movie opened because it’s very much not a “cute dog” movie that’s great for the whole family but instead features a bevy of very adult issues and themes.

And that’s what I really dug about Marley & Me.

Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson play a young married couple whose life we’re following through a handful of very real moments both good and bad. From the enthusiasm of starting their life together through the tragedy of miscarriage to the joy of starting a family to struggling with jobs and self-identification issues, these are all moments that a lot of people have gone through. To their credit, Aniston and Wilson do their level best to not be overshadowed by the dog or the kids and not only do the pair provide some laughs but also some very real drama.

There are a handful of those expected “cute dog” moments within the movie but they’re honestly few and far between. More often than not, actually, the kinds of antics the dog engages in that in other movies would be played for laughs are in this one used to move the story along by providing a point of tension and/or bonding between the humans in the film. That’s a pretty unique role for the dog - which is setup to be the focal point of the movie - to play and it’s a credit to the screenwriters that they managed to create a movie that works as more than fluffy entertainment.

I’m not saying Marley & Me is a cutting portrait of disillusionment. It’s not. The characters - based on real people since the movie is based on a non-fiction book about life with and around this unruly dog - are more or less optimistic and use the tragedies and hardships they face as launching pads for doing it better the next time. So if you’re into dark character studies that deconstruct the suburban mythos you’ll be disappointed. But it also doesn’t shy away from showing that life, even with a larger-than life mess of a dog, isn’t always sunshine and flowers.

The DVD release of Marley & Me comes with a whole batch of bonus features that range from pretty interesting to mildly entertaining fluff.

Deleted Scenes - Pretty self explanitory. Nothing relevatory here but there are some interesting character moments.
Gag Reel - Not the traditional gag reel you might expect. This is a pretty highly polished montage of people mugging for the camera.
Finding Marley - The search for the dog.
Breaking the Golden Rule - Wilson and Aniston discuss breaking the rules about never working with animals and/or babies.
On the Set with Marley - About working with the dog.
Animal Adoption - Again, you can guess what this is about.
Purina Dog Chow videos - A couple features about a video contest Purina, a promotional partner in the movie’s marketing and featured prominently in the movie, ran when the movie was about to hit theaters.
When Not to Pee - Yep.
Trailers

I have to say I was more than pleasantly surprised by Marley & Me. I expected a mildly entertaining romantic comedy, but the realistic portrait of struggles of the characters that the movie actually contains wound up being not only far more entertaining but far more interesting than I presumed it to be.

Originally posted on:Chris Thilk

Movie Journal: Nobody’s Fool, The Stranger, Hoffa

ChrisThilk — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:01:53 GMT

I went on a movie-watching spree on Hulu recently and wanted to catalog some of the flicks I caught on the site.

Nobody’s Fool: I saw this movie when it first came out and remembered quite liking it so I thought it was cool that it showed up on Hulu and I had a chance to revisit it. Paul Newman, unsurprisingly, gives a great low-key performance as a small town curmudgeon who tries to come to terms with the life he’s lead as he meets his grandchildren, tries to hold down a job and other everyday tasks. There’s no big emotional arc he goes on - he winds up in much the same place at the end of the movie that he started out in - but Newman is always worth watching and he never makes the one long, sustained note he’s asked to hold out boring.

The Stranger: Orsen Welles plays an on-the-run Nazi who has managed to integrate himself into a small town in the U.S. but who is eventually tracked down by Nazi-hunter Edward G. Robinson. Not the best film from either one but definitely worth watching if you can track it down.

Hoffa: I know it’s popular to trash the 1992 Danny DeVito-directed biopic of the union legend, but I like it. It’s another movie I saw around the time of its first release and, upon re-watching, I stand by my assertion that DeVito makes some interesting choices and that Jack Nicholson does a pretty good job in the title role. It’s obviously not going to be a complete story of the man’s life but it hits many of the high points and does so in an entertaining way.

OK, now I’m all caught up.

Originally posted on:Chris Thilk

Movie Journal: Watchmen

ChrisThilk — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:01:52 GMT

I did see Watchmen opening weekend but haven’t had the strength/time to write up anything approaching a review of the film and, quite frankly, still don’t. But I did want to share my overall impression of the film.

Unlike my brother-in-law, who saw it with me, I didn’t completely hate it and want to start attacking those involved in the film with pointed sticks. In fact I quite liked it and felt that while it’s still largely impossible to completely adapt the sourch graphic novel into even a 2:45 film, the filmmakers did a pretty good job of accomplishing what they could.

High points include:

Jackie Earl Haley’s portrayal of the detective Rorschach: Filmspotting’s Adam or Matty (I can’t remember which said it) were right when he said it was a performance that approaches what Heath Ledger did as The Joker in The Dark Knight.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as The Comedian: Yeah, he exists only to provide motivations of one form or another to the rest of the characters - he is the Macguffin - but he sells it.
The moments when Zack Snyder departs from the source material but remains true to the story: No squid? No problem. The idea that Ozywhatever would try to accomplish his goal by turning the world against Dr. Manhattan completely works within the movie’s logic and gets around the problem created by 1) the fact that a giant alien squid would have looked ridiculous and 2) the fact that its creation would have been impossible to tell without including The Black Frieghter and about 35 more minutes of footage involving an artist’s colony.

Low points include:

Malin Ackerman as Silk Spectre II: Oh just kill me now. I’m convinced she wasn’t actually on the set but that Snyder just filmed her at the first table read and dropped the footage into his digitally-created sets.
“That scene” on the Owlship: Yeah, you know the one I’m talking about. If Snyder were looking for minutes to cut from the film I can show him about six that could be lifted easily.

Despite those few problems with it I did like it and am looking forward to seeing it again, when I can be free of all the expectations and hype that surrounded its release, something that without a doubt colors everyone’s perceptions of the finished product.

Originally posted on:Chris Thilk